כ״ח שבט ה׳תשפ״ו | February 15, 2026
Why Are Crown Heights Patients Getting Second-Class Care?
When a woman in our community needed medical attention of a sensitive nature at the ODA, she was shocked and uncomfortable when treated by a bochur. Despite our efforts, managers seem to think Crown Heights residents don’t care about standards. We must demand change.
By a Crown Heights resident
In recent years, the ties between the Crown Heights community and the neighboring frum communities have grown stronger and stronger. We have been on good terms and have been able to work together. Many Yidden from other communities have joined Chabad in spreading Chassidus, and they enjoy going to Chabad houses when they travel.
The Yidden in nearby communities have been very successful in tapping into various government programs to help their fellow large frum communities nearby. As a result, they have been making a large profit from providing these services.
Yet, for some reason, when it comes to serving the Crown Heights community, these same chassidim fail to provide services that are up to the frum standards of our community.
A couple of years ago, ODA moved into Crown Heights and bought out a local doctor’s office, creating almost a complete monopoly on frum medical services here in Crown Heights. They had a grand opening with the impression that they would hold themselves to high frum standards. ODA has branches in almost every large frum community in New York State. In all other communities, the ODA offices run according to halacha and the minhagim appropriate for their community standards.
Recently, a woman in our community needed medical attention of a sensitive nature. She called ODA to make an appointment, specifically requesting a female physician, and told the receptionist the reason for the visit. She was told she would be squeezed in for a same-day appointment.
Expecting to receive sensitive care, given that this is a frum doctor’s office in a frum community, she was shocked and uncomfortable when a chassidish bochur wearing a white shirt and a beard called her into the room, closed the door – following ODA Crown Heights’s policy – and asked her for the reason for her visit. He asked her for some basic medical history and took her vitals. He also asked her if she had recently taken a sensitive female medical test.
It was surprising to us that a bochur would be assisting a woman who had made an appointment specifically for a female physician, so we did some research. We found that both secular and frum medical institutions in other frum communities pride themselves on providing sensitive female-to-female care among office staff, nurses, and doctors. Some doctors’ offices will not even allow husbands past a certain point in the office.
Moreover, at ODA in other communities, the policy is not to close the door when a male doctor is with a female patient. But in Crown Heights, the policy is to close the door.
We called ODA Williamsburg and spoke to one of the chassidishe women employed there. We described what happened, and she was shocked. She said that this is not at all the level of female care that takes place in Williamsburg. We asked her for contact information for the manager at the ODA Crown Heights center, and she gave us his phone number.
We called the manager to arrange a meeting. We were advised to meet with him together with a local kallah teacher, who told us that she had previously tried meeting with him regarding similar matters but was not successful in getting what she wanted from him. Clearly, we were not the first to complain about the frum standards of care at ODA Crown Heights.
We came into the ODA office for an in-person meeting with the manager, Michael. We walked into the office and asked him if we could discuss something. He said, “Tell me quickly.” I asked him again to please sit down so we could discuss this properly, after which he reluctantly sat down. I described what happened at the doctor’s visit and the insensitive care received.
I asked him why he employs local bochurim and why the policy at ODA Crown Heights is different from that in other frum communities. I tried to explain why it is important to provide sensitive care to patients. I told him that patients will be reluctant to seek important medical care if they are not treated nicely and sensitively, and according to community standards, which could potentially be very detrimental to their health.
He answered me, “It’s your fault. You have to demand the care that you want. If you want a female or a male, you have to insist on it when you are called in.” I explained to him that when a patient comes sick, they often don’t have the strength to make an issue, but he said again, “It’s your fault.”
I also gave Michael some small suggestions regarding these matters, and he said he cannot implement them because it would “slow down business.”
We also reached out to a number of influential community members, kallah teachers, rabbonim, the Vaad Hakohol, and people in the medical field in Crown Heights.
We called the office staff to see if we could place a note in the medical file stating that this patient always wants a female to call her in. We were told that this would not help because the people who call in patients do not see the medical files. Patients must demand a male or female each time they come into the office.
The manager also confirmed at the meeting that ODA policy is always to close the door during appointments when someone comes into the room. This is not the level of Hilchos Yichud generally practiced in other communities.
Walking out of the meeting, we felt stepped on, abused, and disrespected.
When they provide services to their own communities, all services are provided to the highest standards of halacha and minhag, as is expected for their community standards. It seems that they think the Crown Heights community does not care to uphold these same standards.
The community activists we spoke with said that they had also tried to reach out to influential members connected to ODA and were not successful in bringing about any change.
We would like to recommend that when going for an appointment involving sensitive care, one should not go alone. Consider this office as you would a secular office and advocate for yourself to ensure that you receive the care you deserve. Know that you have the right to deny care from anyone you are not comfortable with. If you want a female, you must specifically ask for it.
If you are uncomfortable with the aide, tell them that you will discuss all medical matters with the doctor, and that you do not have to disclose the reason for your visit or any medical information to the aide.
This story is not an isolated incident. This type of care happens to many adult patients at ODA Crown Heights. If anyone has influence with the higher-ups at ODA and can help make changes in the above areas, the community would be very happy to see ODA Crown Heights providing the same standard of care as ODA in other communities.
As we know, this is not a chesed organization; it is a business that makes a lot of money while providing below-standard care. We do not know why, but the managers at ODA seem to think that the residents of Crown Heights do not care about these issues. We must demand change.
COMMENTS
There’s zero NYS policy forcing a situation for a male provider to be in closed room (without cameras) with a female. Al aches kama v’kama a heimshe medical center.
Welcome to the ch ODA
You should contact Rabbi Kestenbaum who is currently in Florida, he owns the place and will very quickly take care of all problems, he is a ehrlich yid who will not stand by such disgracefully practices (PS part of the problem is the people working in the office which some are from our community who are not standing by the rules, management can not tell them to adhere to community standards when they claim to be of the community themselves)
It’s known that poilishers think chabad is not frum
For example they don’t let the safe tech office be called tag since it’s for chabad and obviously chabad isn’t religious
Are you sure that’s the reason?
Obviously just walk down the street in ch and then try in borough park
I dont think im going out on a limb y saying I dont think the manager a abused you…. he may have negated your concerns or low you off BUT not abused you… the claim only make your concerns exaggerated…
This is a private business not a community organization… One should simply take there business elsewhere
“we felt stepped on, abused, and disrespected.”
They never accused the manager of abusing them. They wrote what they felt. You can’t argue with their feelings.
They aren’t a ‘private business’ they are what’s called an FHQC and by definition should be providing community care in a way that’s helpful to the community etc.
Point well made
Personally every time I go to the oda and have a female aid taking my vitals I ask her to leave the door open and they don’t have a problem with it and I think in general it’s also the patient’s responsibility to ask for the door to remain open when having a appointment with a opposite gender medical professional and usually they don’t mind
Perhaps The community should arrange a petition to the ODA and get as many signatures as possible on it to change these issues, maybe that will influence them
Lastly as the author wrote, it is a business and everyone using them is keeping them in business so if enough people care enough and stop using them because of these issues they will have to change
(this is not a excuse for the oda, but they see the standard of many patients that are not so particular on tznius -maybe as much as the other communities- so they don’t feel pressured to have policies that are on a halachically appropriate tznius level)
I don’t understand why it is problematic to have frum boys working at a doctor’s office. They may be the next generation of frum doctors, and if they don’t have a place to gain experience they won’t be able to succeed.
That being said, there should be a policy that if a female patient is coming in for a sensitive medical problem, a female medical assistant should triage them.
When I worked at ODA we never closed the door lechatchilah if there was a question of Yichud, but oftentimes the patient would request to do so (specifically when it was a sensitive issue) and we obliged; this bochur may have made a mistake.
Down the block from ODA, a new birthing center has recently opened. They provide full women’s care, not only prenatal care.
I called ODA CH to make an appointment and was told to call back because the only female physician has a special booker and very limited availability.
I called the birthing center right away and was seen by a female medical assistant and female doctor who spent time with me and explained all my options. Support this new gem in our community for female specific care!! Vote with your feet!
As a CH yungerman, I too experience uncomfortable situations in ODA, when female nurses (frum or not) enter the room and close the door behind them. Each time I have to specialy request that the door stays open. In a frum community such policy should be in place, in line with hilchos yichud.
Book appointments in ODA in other communities..
When they realize that no one in crown heights is using the location in crown heights… But going to Williamsburg or BoroPark. They will wake up.
If they have an impression of ch as if we dont care, then they are mistakan
Crown hights must speak up!
We want adherence to halacha!
So happy someone is bringing this up, G-d willing it will bring change. While the Rebbe videos and ample selection of seforim in the waiting room is much appreciated. The dress and behaviour of the staff is also not on par with frum standards. I know a frum woman who was seen by a frum doctor who also lacked the sensitivity one would expect. They do need more women providers for adult patients.
BH Sadly enough, the reality appears to be that standards are really irrelevant to their administration ; the reason for upholding them in other communities is simple societal pressure. If so, the only solution is for our community to SHOW that we care and that will hopefully influence them. Concerning “just going somewhere else”, the author of this article touched upon that by stating that, their has been an almost total monopoly on health care in CH. We simply have very few (at least not enough) other options.
So, why should I–the patient, there b/c I am already vulnerable w/illness or an injury–have to now become the dean of a BT yeshiva and instruct the medical staff as to how to behave differently with frum patients?!
OK. Here we go. Entitled people. Most of us love the place. There is a tremendous amount of specialists available at odd. Many enjoy these resources. It was likely a error. Relax. People feel companies owe them everything because they open up here. I never heard anyone need to ask permission to open in any other community. People are super entitled. Zero appreciation. We expect everyone to do everything for us. It’s amazing how the oda does take feedback. They hire from within the community as much as possible. Additionally, they do have female staff. Wife never had a issues. Only praise. I do think they need to expand their mental health division. We have too many narcissistic people here. They should be getting help. Ty
Unfortunately our standards are lower than other communities, where they often have separate men’s and women’s waiting areas and they are all dressed in the chassidishe garb. Sit in the ODA waiting room one day for the whole day and observe . Are all women walking in with full sheitels and fully tsnius, and are all men wearing a hat and jacket? By what we wear, even if you may say it’s a superficial way to judge someone, it shows on the inside, that yes our standards are lower. We have no tsnius or frumkeit police in lubavitch, so everyone is in charge of themselves, and this is what you get.
With all this, I think the ODA is doing a great job, and it’s okay to have to ask twice for what you want. They are dealing with a lot of people and some requests fall through the cracks.
You are 100% right.
Lots of tea women (and men) don’t look frum (to me, let alone to them), how can you expect them to think that this is a prominently frum community?
ODA Adminstration and Dr. Rosen:
If you are reading this please bring a dentist office to crown heights. Ever since Lerner/Gamms closed the community is in dire need of a dentist.
That would really be appreciated.
Yosef G
Thank you for the comment about Women’s Wellness. I looked it up online and it’s on Lefferts and seems very good for women of all ages. Bh, we have more options in our neighborhood.
The ODA did help my daughter who needed an iron infusion and the hospital had no appointments available. They fitted her in that week and she felt much better.
With all due respect..
1) Dr. Rosen was the one that put them in CH.
He was supposed to make sure proper tzneous guild lines are upheld.
2) Unfortunately the ODA administration walks into CH & sees how the woman dress, why should they think CH is any different that a goyish neighborhood.
It’s very sad that that is where the Rebbe’s neighborhood is.
We have no one but our selves to blame.
Kudos for the few that are standing up for shulchan aruch.
I have to admit was always suspicious of the ODa merger. B”H I am glad my wife and I decided to switch our primary to a physician outside of Ch. It was the best move. Even though that physician recently retired moved to Florida I still won’t come back.
Not surprising The care here is communist style One Dr is the face and there has been no new competition within suggested or allowed. The urgent care On Lefferts and Kingston was forced out My guess strong armed. They can’t control the other urgent care centers around They would if they could. Even more shocking with such a large population there are no local specials and no Dentists regular or specialized. My guess,? Same reasons old style Russian politics just. Like the lady 2 unreal selections for Rabbonim which were jammed down our throats either yes or no on only one choice! That cannot continue it happens because of weakness and non belief The Rebbe to these people is just a. Memory invoked when needed or for fundraising purposes nothing. More. Other than those occasions it’s a free for all.
Where is merkos?
Just kidding.
But it’s annoying when more and more people ask this question when it’s really not relevant.
Yes, that is very true.
I am a Bochur, and I had an appointment with Dr Rosen – which I waited for a very long time.
When I finally got the appointment, he came in with a young female nurse, which made me very uncomfterble, and couldn’t discus what I had in mind…
It’s time for the community to speak up.
Maybe the new “Vaad Hakohol” can help?
Medical care has nothing to do with tznius. If you go to the clinic, hospital or any professional Doctor you get care either way, no matter how you or they are dressed. People are saying that ODA has patients who aren’t dressed properly so that’s why we have lower standards of care! C’mon.
Medical care depends on which doc you get. They do have a choice there BUT not always do you get a doctor so instead you see a P A
Regarding closing doors, it’s done for privacy reasons regardless if you’re a male or female. No one needs to hear a doctor talking thru an open door!
I am very happy that we have ODA in Crown Heights. I am not a rov, but when a medical assistant comes into the room to triage a patient and closes the door, is it yichud? The door is not locked and anyone can open the door and walk into the room. In fact, many times when I am being triaged by a medical assistant, another employee walks in to ask the M.A.. a question. I also think that we are lucky to have a federally funded clinic. As a senior citizen,living on a tight budget, I appreciate the fact that I do not have to pay any deductibles or co-payments. I would like to see more experienced doctors and/ or PA’S on staff.
I know a lot of people have been complaining about the ODA. All I have to say is where were you guys when all the young Lubavitch doctors and PAs and nurses begged the community to financially support our own practices. It’s the same group of people that complain about crime and yet allow three new low income housing units to be built in our neighborhood. We are our own worst enemy and it doesn’t just apply to ODA, it also applies to many of our restaurants, and everything else that “outsiders “take over. It’s been an issue for decades,We don’t want to work or build so naturally others come in and do it then we complain. Vote with your pocket books, daven early, and go build crown heights
This is just so unfair. I’ve personally had care there and have been shown nothing but the utmost respect. They always offer to make you comfortable and will bend over backward to accommodate.
The bochur working there is likely attempting a medical career and is gaining experience, and the fact that the ODA is helping out is beautiful.
If you’re ‘too religious’ for a frum medical office than maybe you should check yourself before attacking a wonderful institution, which is run by the Rebbe’s personal doctor.
Shame on you for writing a hit piece on them.
I spoke to a few of my friend in Williamsburg. They said that everyone in williamsburg knows that oda is much less carefull than the other clinics. People who care about these things more don’t use them. This is not specifically a crown heights issue. It’s an oda issue
Another point, which is less of Halochic one;
The medical treatment/diagnosis can be negatively affected.
For example, when a Bochur goes for an appointment and a CH’er female aide/nurse in same age group comes to fill out standard paperwork questioner, he may not answer fully honestly or may feel uncomfortable to give real answers. then the doctors don’t reask the questions, they just read the computer file – which may lead to them missing important information that would have been provided if only asked by someone else.
(this has happened, isn’t just a hypothetical)
BH Why is the author of this article anonymous? If she can’t stand by her own article, how are others expected to?
(Most newspapers never publish anonymous articles.)